The Jazz Mann | Jazz music reviews and news from the Jazz Mann Ian Mann

Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Alex Clarke Quartet

Out of the Woods

I’m often wary of ‘tribute albums’ such as this but this recording is a cut above the rest thanks to the intelligent writing and arranging and the quality of the playing from all involved.

Howl Quartet

Night Song

Nils Kavanagh

No Expectations

Harben Kay

The World I Live In

Ant Law Quintet

Unified Theories

Shear Brass

Extraordinary Journey

Johnny Richards & Dave King

The New Awkward

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Harry Brunt

Carolina Peaches

Intelligent, frequently quirky, writing from Brunt combines with some superb playing from all four members of a very well balanced and calibrated group.

The Weave

Snishoo

Intelligent and individual writing, excellent playing from all concerned, and that all important sense of humour & irreverence, that makes the group’s sound so distinctive. It's good to have them back

Ted Morcaldi

Celestial Stranger

Part solo recording, part band album it successfully combines both elements and also delivers a successful and beguiling mix of electric and acoustic sounds embracing a variety of musical styles.

Matt Carmichael

Dancing With Embers

His most ambitious and diverse set thus far and a worthy successor to past glories. Carmichael has established his own distinctive voice within a proud Scottish jazz / folk tradition..

Live Jazz Reviews

Chris Cobbson Quartet

Chris Cobbson Quartet, ‘From Dixie to Smooth: The History of Jazz Guitar’, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 26/10/2025.

Resolution 88

Resolution 88, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 23/10/2025.

Chris Biscoe

Chris Biscoe’s Profiles Quartet, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire, 10/10/2025.

Steven Kirby / Deirdre Cartwright Quartet with John Close

Steven Kirby / Deirdre Cartwright Quartet, Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon, 14/10/2025.

BMJ Collective with Nigel Price

BMJ Collective with guest Nigel Price, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville, Centre, Abergavenny, 12/10/2025.

Robert Castelli

Robert Castelli BOOM! Quartet, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 09/10/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Tatar Jazz: Rimma Shaikhelova And Her Journey Of Music And Linguistics Intertwined.

Guest contributor Taliya Hafiz talks to Tatar jazz vocalist Rimma Shaikhelova about the Tatar Jazz Project, which translates jazz standards into the Tatar language.

Sunday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, various venues, Abergavenny, 28/09/2025.

Some of the events on the free Community Sunday Afternoon programme, plus a brilliant sold out concert performance by pianist / vocalist Ian Shaw that explored the music of Joni Mitchell & David Bowie

Jazz Mann News

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City - Programme for December 2025.

Thursday, October 30, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for December 2025 & early January 2026. Shows include Chief Adjuah, the 13th annual Coltrane Festival, New Year's Eve with Jazzmeia Horn.

606 Jazz Club, Chelsea, London - Programme for November 2025.

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Laura Thorne of the 606 has forwarded details of the programme for November 2025, including events forming part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. There is also a short preview of events in December.

Legendary Bass Played by Newark Native Scott LaFaro Loaned to New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) for 2025 TD James Moody Jazz Festival and 2026 Milt Hinton Institute for Studio Bass.